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Our school in Buchanan, Help Liberia Foundation Community School, last Friday, December 13, 2013,  played its first major football and kickball games since the school was established eight years ago.

The games, which were started around 11:am, were played between our school and another school called Kornonia Community School, also located in Buchanan.

Girls of both schools posing with the referee (in middle) before the start of the game. Our girls are on the right.

Kickball Match

The first game was a kickball match between our girls and the girls of Kornonia. Kickball is a game invented in Liberia and mostly played by Liberians. It is played by girls.

Before the start of the kickball game, our girls were excited and jubilant about it, promising to beat the other school. Unfortunately, our girls couldn’t withstand the skills of the other girls. They beat our girls badly. They had 28 points, and our girls had 16 points. Students, staff and parents were dejected. In fact, some of the smaller kids started crying on the field.

One of our girls in a ready position to catch a ball kicked by our opponents

“You should not be discouraged. You did well. This was your very first game, so you have to be encouraged by the fact that you scored more than 15 points against them. We are convinced that you girls will beat them next time. Besides, our boys will beat them,” remarked Mr. Paul Yeenie Harry, director of HLF Community School.

Our boys before the start of the football match

Football Match

Reflecting on the outcome of the kickball match, we were not that excited for the football match. It’s like we were hopeless hopeful, if that is the right way to say.

Just before the game could start, the students of the other school were jubilantly running all around the field, shouting and singing as if they were determined to annoy or confuse us. And, as if to increase our confusion, the Kornonia boys scored their first goal. Their singing increased, while our kids stood around the field sorrowfully.

Our boys shaking hands with the boys of Kornonia

While in this period of uncertainty, our boys scored their first goal, equalizing the scores.  In less than ten minutes, our boys scored their second goal. Our students, too, started running all around the place, shouting and singing. Staff members and parents could not hold their peace, too. An outburst of jubilation seized the sports ground. Before long, again, our boys scored their third goal. It was now 3-1. You have to imagine the ecstatic state we were in. Our boys were playing good football and most spectators began to praise them. The staff and the students of Kornonia became confused and silent. It was only our students who were shouting and singing.

Players in various positions on the field

Anyway, because of some mistakes, the other school managed to score two additional goals. So it was 3-3. Anxiety crept back into us, but our boys were ready to remove it. They scored their fourth goal and the game ended after a few minutes. In short, we won the football game by 4-3.

When the referee sounded the last whistle, we started the jubilation from the field and did not rest until we reached our campus. But who wouldn’t be jubilant in such a situation? It is as if their girls had not defeated our girls. The boys’ victory overshadowed everything.

Students in jubilant mood at the end of the game

A few things need to be remembered about the games last Friday, December 13, 2013. First, it was the kids’ very first time playing such matches in such a manner. Second, it was the first time ever that they used jerseys, which were brought by Anders and Lena during their visit in October and November. Third, our boys played better football than their boys played. Fourth, although they beat our girls, our boys beat their boys, and that beating lessened the impact of their girls’ victory.

We extend a very big thank-you to our boys, our girls, our staff, or parents, our Swedish sponsors and all other individuals and institutions that helped us to give the school a great day.

Click on photos below to see a larger version.

Dear friends, I was down with illness and stayed in hospital for a few days before being released last week. I was down with typhoid and pneumonia. This is why the site has not been updated with new articles, especially articles about the recent visit by our Swedish sponsors, for some time now. Our apologies! We now continue. (Paul Yeenie Harry, school director)

During the visit of our Swedish friends, not only were many things done, but several, various activities went on as we indicated in one of our previous articles. And, because time is fast spent, we wish to mention four in this current article, for there are other things to write about.

P-O observing trainees practicing judo

Judo Lessons

When the guests were here in Liberia, one of them, P-O (who has a black belt in judo) gave some judo lessons to the kids and staff of the school. He brought many of the materials needed for the judo training and the kids and staff used them in their practice. Before the commencement of the training, P-O taught the participants some vocabulary, gave the history of judo, explained some basic rules and the philosophy behind the martial art called judo.

Students, staff, parents and community residents came around to watch the judo training, which took place on the school campus.  All, including the watchers, enjoyed it.

It was the very first time for the kids and the staff to have had such an experience. Many thanks to P-O for making our school have that first-time experience.

A trainee showing his newly learned skill

Gowning of P-O

As part of  the second day’s indoor activities, the school gowned P-O (put on him an African shirt, as it is usually traditionally done for foreign guests coming to the country) and gave him a Bassa name known as “Gar-mon-gar,” meaning: man is man.

P-O then expressed gratitude to the school and promised to always think about the school and help in whatever way he can. “I have had great time in Buchanan. You all have touched my heart and I will always think about you. The kids are special. The staff is special. I will always have you all in mind and help where I can. I will also tell other Swedish friends about the work you are doing with the kids in the school,” he said.

Anders and students walking to the future site

Visit to Future Site

At the end of the activities on campus on the second day, the guests decided to visit the school’s future home, which is located about twenty minutes’ walk from the current campus. They were all excited to have seen the huge land, which is strategically located – on the main road of a place called Bassa Community. They were shown the cornerstones of the land, and they all expressed their desire to help the school build a structure on the new site.

“Paul, this is a very good place. I like the trees all around. Do not cut them down. The place is really great. We can help to build a school here for the kids,” remarked Anders.

Students eating outside

Money for Food

Before their departure from Buchanan, our guests donated US$100 to the school, saying the money should be used to cook for the kids, which we did. We are grateful to them for the financial assistance that helped the kids to eat soup and rice for days.

View more photos below (click on a photo to see a larger version).

The three Swedish citizens who visited Help Liberia Foundation Community School in Buchanan last week donated a variety of gifts to the school and the kids.

Students, guests and staff pose behind gifts

As indicated in our last article, the gifts donated by Lena, Anders and P-O included two sets of jerseys for the boys and the girls, 25 pairs of black football boots, 10 pairs of physical education sneakers, pencils, pens, judo clothes, a football, a football pump, some candies, a puzzle map about Sweden, books about Swedish animals, chalk, book bags, copybooks, and many others.

Guests posing with students in their new jerseys

Lena and Anders indicated that the sports shoes were given by a Swedish sportswear business. Elizabeth, too, although she didn’t come on this trip, sent some items with Lena and Anders.

Lena making remarks after presenting the 25 pairs of boots to the school

Besides the gifts given the school, Lena and Anders also made personal donations to two kids whom they are sponsoring in the school – Rita Bryant and Augustine Tarplah.

Lena and Anders posing with one of their sponsored children – Rita Bryant – after giving her special gifts

The school kids, staff and parents expressed gratitude for the items donated and called upon the visitors to continue thinking about and helping the kids in the school.

Staff viewing gifts, as guests and students look on

The school is profoundly grateful to Lena, Anders and P-O, as well as all the other people who contributed to the effort that brought smiles to the faces of the kids at the school.

Lena and Anders display a puzzle map of Sweden, as Paul looks on

View a few photos below (click on a photo to see a larger version).

Less than eight months after a four-person team visited Help Liberia Foundation Community School in Buchanan in March of this year, three persons returned last week to see the school and the children attending it.

Kids are excited about the visit

Those visiting the school were Lena and her husband Anders, who were also here in March, and Lena’s brother, P-O. They arrived in Monrovia on Tuesday, October 29, 2013, and arrived in Buchanan on Wednesday, October 30, and stayed there from October 30 to November 1.

Lena making statements at the welcome program

During their visit, they brought several, various gifts for the kids. The gifts included sets of jerseys for the boys and the girls, football boots, physical education sneakers, pencils, pens, judo clothes, football, football pump, candies, a puzzle map about Sweden, books about Swedish animals, chalk, book bags, and many others.

Paul making remarks at the program

Upon their arrival, the school had a welcome program in their honor. During the program, each visitor expressed their happiness to be in Liberia, especially with the kids, thanking Paul Harry and the staff for doing their best to keep the school running and to help the kids.

P-O interacting with the kids

It is interesting to note that Lena and Anders came to the school wearing the African clothes given them during the March visit, which the kids, the staff and the parents around appreciated.

Anders showing Swedish animals to the kids

At the welcome program, also, Anders, using one of the animal books he brought, showed the kids and the staff some animals found in Sweden, which the kids enjoyed looking at.

P-O making a statement at the program

The guests’ visit at the school was characterized by various activities, indoor programs, gift presentations, judo training, HLF future site visitation, and so forth.

Many of these activities will be written about in individual articles and posted on the website over the next two weeks. Photos will accompany them.

Would you like to sponsor a child at our school?

We have added details of new children who are seeking sponsors to our Sponsor a Student page, please have a look and complete the application form if you would like to sponsor one of them.

Sam Doegolia is one of the children who is looking for a sponsor